Compare towns
Madison vs Windsor vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the highest household income ($103k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Madison | Windsor | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
3,554Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Madison and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$66,136±$14k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Madison School District | — | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.